Without identifying Mr Kaepernick, Mr Trump aimed a Friday speech in Alabama at players who knelt for the anthem.

At the Washington Redskins game against Oakland, Redskins owner Dan Snyder locked arms with teammates in solidarity while a few players when on one knee. "There are five or ten different interpretations of what the real issue is here and that's why people are talking past one another a lot of times". "What the President is saying is, and I think, the owners should meet and they should vote on a rule".

"I think it's bold, it's courageous for any guy to speak up, let alone a guy that has as much to lose as LeBron does and other notable figures in the league".

On Sunday night Trump doubled-down on his criticism: "Sports fans should never condone players that do not stand proud for their National Anthem or their Country", Trump tweeted. Is he wrong to interfere? "He's fired, '" Trump said during the rally.

"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners when somebody disrespects our flag, to say get that son of a b***h off the field right now?" he said.

Last season, the most prominent explanation the league gavefor the drop was "unprecedented interest in the presidential election". Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy, Trump said "the only reason we don't have" repeal of the Affordable Care Act is "because of John McCain". And it leaves the country in a horrible place.